Sony TX1 Review

Name: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
Brand: Sony

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Main Features

10MP - 1/2.4-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 3200

35-140 mm F3.5-4.6 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video

142g. 94 x 58 x 17 mm

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Sony TX1 Overview

First introduced in August 2009 , Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 is a 10.0MP Ultracompact camera with a 1/2.4-inch (6.104 x 4.578 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 35-140 mm F3.5-4.6 lens.

Sony TX1 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Sony TX1 has an Overall Score of 32/100 and ranked #457 out of 629 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #1052 out of 1225 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Sony TX1 Physical Specs

Sony TX1 weighs 142 g (0.31 lb / 5.01 oz) and has external dimensions of 94 x 58 x 17 mm (3.7 x 2.28 x 0.67″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Sony TX1 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 17mm, it is also quite small, 11mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Sony TX1

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Sony TX1

Min

Average

Max

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony TX1, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Sony TX1 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Sony TX1 with its main competitors:

Sony TX1 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs TX1	Thickness	vs TX1
Panasonic SZ7 Compare	133g	9g lighter	21mm	4mm thicker
Sony TX55 Compare	109g	33g lighter	13mm	4mm thinner
Fujifilm X-T10 Compare	381g	239g heavier	41mm	24mm thicker
Leica Q Compare	640g	498g heavier	93mm	76mm thicker
Nikon P1000 Compare	1415g	1273g heavier	181mm	164mm thicker
Canon IXUS 165 Compare	128g	14g lighter	22mm	5mm thicker
Sony TX10 Compare	133g	9g lighter	18mm	1mm thicker
Sony WX220 Compare	121g	21g lighter	22mm	5mm thicker

Weather Sealing

Sony TX1 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Sony TX1 Sensor and Photography Features

Sony TX1 has a 10.0MP 1/2.4-inch (6.104 x 4.578 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 3648 x 2736 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. TX1 has a native ISO range of 125 - 3200 but unfortunately, Sony TX1 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

Sony TX1 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Sony TX1 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Sony TX1's 1/2.4-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Sony TX1 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Sony TX1 Lens

Sony TX1 features a 35-140 mm F3.5-4.6 4× zoom lens. With a focal length of only 35mm on the wide end, it offers very limited wide angle capability . On the plus side, 140mm reach on tele gives a lot of flexibility and satisfy most of your needs.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

TX1

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

TX1

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f3.50 at 35mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end and neither at tele end with its f4.60.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

TX1

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

TX1

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

TX1 is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

Sony TX1 LCD

Sony TX1 has a Fixed Type 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

TX1 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider (Compare) or (Compare).
If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

Sony TX1 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

You can connect TX1 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Sony TX1 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Panasonic SZ7 Compare	1920 x 1080	220shots	No	No	No
Sony TX55 Compare	1920 x 1080	250shots	No	No	No
Fujifilm X-T10 Compare	1920 x 1080	350shots	Yes	No	No
Leica Q Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon P1000 Compare	3840 x 2160	250shots	Yes	Yes	No
Canon IXUS 165 Compare	1280 x 720	220shots	No	No	No
Sony TX10 Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	No	No	No
Sony WX220 Compare	1920 x 1080	210shots	Yes	No	Yes

Sony TX1 Video Features

With Sony TX1, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

TX1 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker.
Sony TX1 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

Sony TX1 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Sony TX1 can shoot continuously at max speed of and has max shutter speed of 1/1250 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately TX1 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Sony TX1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

Sony TX1 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Sony TX1 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Image Stabilization

Touch Screen

142g Light Body

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CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Full HD Video

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

No Face Detection Focusing

Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP

Max Sensitivity only ISO 3.200

Only 9 Focus Points

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

1/1250s Low Max Shutter Speed

No Manual Focusing

No Manual Exposure

No Environmental Sealing

35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage

Slow Lens at Wide: f3.50

Slow Lens at Tele: f4.60

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What type of Photography is Sony TX1 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Sony TX1 in 5 different photography areas.

Sony TX1 for Portrait Photography

Sony TX1 has a score of 15 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTX1.

Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.4" (6.104 x 4.578 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe

No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX1 for Portrait Photography

Sony TX1 for Street Photography

Sony TX1 has a score of 46 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.

Live-view
Image Stabilization
Small Body
No Built-in Viewfinder

No Manual Focus Mode
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.4" (6.104 x 4.578 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX1 for Street Photography

Sony TX1 for Sports Photography

Sony TX1 has a score of 15 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTX1.

Image Stabilization
140 mm Tele Lens
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1250s
9 Focus Points
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode
No Built-in Viewfinder
No External Flash Shoe
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX1 for Sports Photography

Sony TX1 for Daily Photography

Sony TX1 has a score of 57 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
142g
Body Thickness 17mm

4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.4" (6.104 x 4.578 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX1 for Daily Photography

Sony TX1 for Landscape Photography

Sony TX1 has a score of 15 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTX1.

No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No RAW shooting capability

Small 1/2.4" (6.104 x 4.578 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX1 for Landscape Photography

Sony TX1 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Sony TX1 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Sony TX1 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Sony TX1

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sony TX1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Sony TX1 Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Sony TX1 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Sony TX1's price range.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sony TX1

Does the Sony TX1 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Sony TX1 have RAW support?
Does the Sony TX1 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Sony TX1 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Sony TX1?
What is the Sensor Size of Sony TX1?
is the Sony TX1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Sony TX1 have Touch Screen?
Does the Sony TX1 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony TX1?
What is the Weight of Sony TX1?
What are the Dimensions of Sony TX1?

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Sony
Model	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
Announced	2009-08-06
Body Type	Ultracompact
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	35-140 mm (4×)
Max Aperture	F3.5-4.6
Macro Focus Range	8cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	3"
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	2s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/1250s
Continuous Shooting	n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	n/a
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	3.00 m
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	BSI-CMOS
Sensor Size	1/2.4-inch
Sensor Dimensions	6.104 x 4.578 mm
Sensor Area	27.94mm²
Sensor Resolution	10 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	3648 x 2736
Max Native ISO	3,200
Min Native ISO	125
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	9
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	142g
Physical Dimensions	94 x 58 x 17mm
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage Slots	1